Durant refutes Bombers PR guy on retirement: ‘stay in your lane’

It’s become increasingly clear that quarterback Darian Durant and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have very different versions on how his retirement went down.

Durant announced his retirement Friday morning on his personal website, posting a message that said all kinds of nice things about Rider fans. But shortly after, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – with whom Durant signed as a free agent in January – issued their own statement saying the move caught them by surprise and that they were “extremely disappointed” in the decision.

Cameron took to Twitter Friday night, shortly after the interview aired, to strongly refute that statement.

Simply not true. Yes, they’ve been in touch about it being a possibility since shortly before mini-camp, but we never did receive a comfirmation or notification about a retirement, including in a convo last night w his agent. Our statement is 1000% how it unfolded. Bottom line. https://t.co/nosNqVX6wc

Fast-forward to Sunday morning when Durant – who has changed his avatar from a Winnipeg ‘W’ to a photo of him as a Rider taken on the night old Mosaic closed – hopped on social media and told Cameron to shut it.

please stop throwing that out there. My agent told Kyle. Kyle said he was on vacation and would call me. He never called so I announced. If u don’t have all the info please stay in your lane.

This is the first version of the story that involves Durant’s agent, the well-respected Dan Vertlieb – who the Bombers are saying they talked to the night before Durant’s announcement – and Winnipeg general manager Kyle Walters being on vacation.

Wrong. If they can be released the day before a bonus is due, they can keep one if they change their mind after the fact. Not complicated. It’s a signing bonus. He signed. Changed his mind. He still signed. Get over it.

COMPLETELY AGREE! it’s a “signing bonus” – it has nothing to do w/ participating nor performing folks. This is where it’s difficult for so many to separate what they perceive is a “game” that is actually BIG business – this game called football!

Would you feel the same if they let him go before a bonus was due? What if he was injured the day after receiving the bonus? It’s a risk both player and team take in agreeing to bonuses.

To the twitter guy that posted about his business: that’s completwly unrelated. Many businesses charge up front, many based on production, and many in between. You can’t compare one to another. I can spend years on project planning and if they don’t go through I don’t get paid. That’s the risk I accept up front. This is just one example of a contract that lost people don’t seem to understand in business. If you want a guarantee to work for an hourly wage or a salary. That’s not what a cfl contract is.

Signing bonuses are advances of the players salary for the upcoming season. When a player is cut the day before he is due a bonus, it makes good sense for the club if they don’t intend to keep the player. That money has not been earned yet nor is the player entitled to it. Durant’s signing bonus is an advance on the upcoming season, given in good faith that he would play. By retiring and keeping the money, Durant is stealing $70k.

Totally agree. DD too 70k in the agreement he would play then took the money and ran. I’m sure in court it will be seen as the same and he will be forced to repay the Bombers. But really how stupid are they to give DD 70k upfront? That’s plain bad management.

You clearly haven’t a clue about the law and have actually libeled Durant. If it were actually stealing, Winnipeg would eventually get the money back and Durant would be arrested. No theft here whatsoever. None.

Don’t like what he did? Fine. But don’t call it stealing, you child molester.

Would you feel the same if they let him go before a bonus was due? What if he was injured the day after receiving the bonus? It’s a risk both player and team take in agreeing to bonuses.

To the twitter guy that posted about his business: that’s completwly unrelated. Many businesses charge up front, many based on production, and many in between. You can’t compare one to another. I can spend years on project planning and if they don’t go through I don’t get paid. That’s the risk I accept up front. This is just one example of a contract that lost people don’t seem to understand in business. If you want a guarantee to work for an hourly wage or a salary. That’s not what a cfl contract is.

COMPLETELY AGREE! it’s a “signing bonus” – it has nothing to do w/ participating nor performing folks. This is where it’s difficult for so many to separate what they perceive is a “game” that is actually BIG business – this game called football!

Typical of “Go Down Nation”. All teams screw over veterans all the time an send them away. This will continue to happen cause that’s what the rules are.
It’s typical of Go Down Nation to point out who they want to make look like . Have a good season

It may be unethical or immoral what DD did,but no one held a gun to the bombers head forcing them to pay him a $70,000 up front signing bonus. Could they have established milestones to be met, (conditions) before paying him significant money ? Let the buyer beware !

Buyer beware, seriously? This isn’t a car this is a sports contract. You do realize that a signing bonus is very common in sports (only usually the player holds up their end of the contract). It was most likely all part of the negotiations and seeing how Darian was expecting a roster bonus from the Als was probably banking on some off season coin he probably asked for this up front seeing how he was cut before he got his bonus in Montreal. If you think the Bombers are the only team that do signing bonuses then I’ve got a bridge to sell you in Taiwan lol.

Maybe there was something going on we don’t know about, maybe there was miscommunication I don’t know. All I know is how the whole situation unfolded was pretty shi**y and could’ve been handled way better

No one is denying that Vern, it’s the whole arrogance he has displayed afterwards. Take the money and disappear, don’t do your rounds on the radio and keep rehashing the situation and pissing the fans off more. Now I am reasonable enough to know that there are 3 sides in this story; Darian’s, the Bombers, and somewhere in the middle is the truth.

If he did reach out Thursday night well Kyle Walters does have a family so like most of us who hasn’t returned a work call the next day when it’s received in the evening and family time? But he should’ve waited till he actually spoke to KW before making the post, even if it delayed it till Friday afternoon who cares; you’re retired you’ve got all the time now lol.

Based on how the whole situation unfolded optics certainly make it appear as through Darian had no intention of reporting to camp and used this to get a little severance package from the CFL, now I’m not saying that’s exactly what happened, but it could appear that way

The bombers admit there was a conversation between darians agent and the bombers, they just dont specify who in the organization. A “ convo” is more than the agent leaving a message to get back to him. Could darian had waited till he talked to walters personally? Sure. But if he believed the bombers knew of his decision, it isnt the bombers place to announce the retirement, the player almost always does that. And so thats what darian did.
To suggest that darian planned this the whole time is just sour grapes. Here is more info than 3down didnt care to share .
“I’ve been training and working hard this off-season and my body just hasn’t been responding the way I feel like it needs to be ready for the season. I just had a daughter and being away from her was extremely tough.”

Another aspect that contributed to Durant’s decision was watching his teammates deal with being separated from their families during the long CFL season.

“Every year I’ve seen Rob Bagg have to leave his three kids to come to Regina,’’ Durant said. “Then they are in Regina for a couple of weeks and he doesn’t see them again for a couple of months.

“I’ve seen grown men crying because they haven’t seen their kids in four or five months. It’s not easy and being a father I understand that. I want to be there every step of the way for my daughter.’’
If you dont have kids, then you may not understand, but it completely changes your outlook on life and what your priorities are. It is completely understandable why darian decided to retire.

Lancaster all I said was optics make it appear that way. Nowhere did I say this is exactly what he planned to do, Im not in his head and don’t claim to know what he’s thinking.

The reality is you, me, and everyone else doesn’t know what was said and who said it as we weren’t privy to the conversation. That’s why I’ve been saying that there’s 3 sides here with the truth being somewhere in the middle.

I honestly could care less about Durant…judging by his performance last season in Montreal…one could argue that he packed it in there Riders….Canada’s team you’re kidding me right…maybe you need to stop sniffing the fertilizer lol

Gotta agree re the “Canada’s team”. Canada does NOT have a team. If people want to user the fact that the Riders ae SUPPOSEDLY everyone’s second favourite team, that makes them the SECOND favourite team in Canada and I would not refer to a SECOND favourite team as Canada’s team. That is just being arrogant to call them that.

The closest we ever came to having a “Canada’s team” was in 1994 and 95 when BC and Calgary played Baltimore in the Grey Cup game both of those years. Even then, most Edmontonians are of the ABC mindset.

From the things that Durant is saying, there is a real question in my mind as to his sense of ethics… I’ve lost a great deal of respect for him. He seems to want to be remembered as a Rider and is using the Blue Bombers’ “green” to fund it… so both the Alouettes and Winnipeg got taken by DD and Chris…

IMO, the ALS should pay bonus. Instead dropped DD as hot lead at 11th hour. Then again, this seems to be contagious in CFL. Somehow this whole scene does not help CFL in any way. Fans will say, well the “Management” has the right . Maybe so, still doesn’t make it right. Check NFL if they also have the same disease. DD just keep the $70k. I’m with you.

Truly sad to see how this has unfolded. DD had such an opportunity to see a fan base & an organization at its best, but rather made the decision to turn his cheek and promote the past. Many of the Bomber supporters were happy to have DD as a Bomber and his role that he signed for. Probably would have been a great going away party, had he completed his Bomber commitment on Labour Day or Banjo Bowl Day.

I don’t have a problem with him keeping a signing bonus. Teams cut players prior to a bonus payout date all the time it appears. It is a CFLPA – CFL issue that needs to be regulated for the benefit of all. This and the window to the NFL are two issues that need to be resolved for players, teams and fans.

Many fail to forget that when teams drop players they are still free to go sign with other teams at fair market value. In cases like this teams are out the money (and cap
Space) and the player is collecting it for something that was never fulfilled. That being said the rules are the rules and until that changes there is nothing Wpg can do.

Craig:
I agree. The CFL needs to collectively bargain the end of all signing bonuses and side deals to let players out of contracts early to “explore NFL opportunities”.
Cost certainty is paramount with a small salary cap and two year commitments are required.

So the bomber organization wasnt really blindsided in any way since they knew durant was considering retirement since before Apr23, the day their mini camp started. Blindsided indicates a completely unexpected development. And nowhere in any bombers quote did they use the term blindsided. We will call that 3down embellishment/lie #1.
About the bonus darian said “ Secondly, I’m not going to address the bonus situation. I just felt like it was just a situation where I deserve that. I’m going to just leave it at that.“ there is some ambiguity in that statement. Is he saying he deserves to not discuss the bonus situation? Weak yes, but quite possible. We will call that 3down embellishment/lie #2.
The article saying darian quit on the riders is salacious at the very least. The whole story is based on an article that had some glaring errors and no direct quotes, responsible journalists should at the very least point out the inaccuracies in the report. Jones himself told reporters darian was left in regina because of various aches and pains. The riders did not cut ties with durant at that point. They continued to regularly discuss with him his situation as a rider until the time they traded him to montreal. 3down embellishment/lie #3
Now as far as who is telling the truth, darian or the bombers; the bombers and darian both say that darian’s agent contacted the bombers and/or kyle walters on vacation the night before darians annoucement. It makes perfect sense for his agent to call the team or manager in the evening to inform them that darian had just made his decision and is retiring. It makes very little sense to phone the team/manager in the evening, after business hours , to tell them, what? No decision has been made? That message could wait till the next day. On the surface, darians version makes more sense.

I think a “ nothing to report” is not urgent enough to be made in the evening , to a manager on vacation, when it could easily wait until the next day. A “my client decided to retire” is urgent enough for that phone call.

Careful Lancaster -Reed , your using to much common sense , and exposing the feelings /jealousy of the entire 3DN Nation cast regarding the Riders /Rider Nation and i Feel the people of Saskatchewan in whole. I could go on further about how trailer pasrk trash this group is but I wont. Great job pointing out reality sadly your common sense will fall on deaf ears or only be accepted by the people of Saskatchewan , but Saskatchewanians are used to the kind of derogatory statements that will follow after I post this. Happy Mothers day all .

you are right, YUP…how many Rider fans were polled to make such a sweeping statement on behalf of all? However, after that late hit that the Bombers put on DD, to abort his career, I am happy that he stuck it to them.

DD has worked hard for everything he has. The old days of the cfl,long term contracts and team/management loyalty are done. Who can blame players for behaving the same. The cfl and a league has no respect for its players.

Another CFL “policy” that needs updating is the belief of playing the starting quarterback from beginning to end in games. I’ve always found this football only idea to be annoying.
Maybe it’s because of potential statistical bonuses in the sarter’s contracts. Maybe it’s because the coaches only care about their situation and not the club’s long term best planning.

It’s become clear that, due to lack of playing time for backups, prospects are just not being developed properly to take over if the starters around the league are injured or suddenly retire, like Durant did.
Winnipeg and Calgary don’t have much behind Nichols and Mitchell. Ottawa and Hamilton are also in huge trouble if Harris and Masoli go down.
Montreal’s entire quarterback situation is a big question mark.
Only Edmonton, Saskatchewan, B.C. (If Lulay returns to health) and MAYBE Toronto can feel secure with either of their top QBs starting.

A smart Coach should put in their backup whenever the team is way behind or way ahead in games.
If not, how do these backups ever develop into starters?? They need reps to evolve.

One guy who is unemployed at the moment, but getting more valuable as a free agent ,with Darian Durant and Andrew Buckley retiring, is Drew Tate. He should be back in the CFL by July the way the CFL landscape is looking.

Ask Henoc Muamba or many other vets who negotiate contracts I good faith, perform to or above standards and then find themselves cut loose “for the good of the team” and players have to take it. Durant could have handled it much better, but having said that, I don’t blame him for keeping the money. Management does it all the time.

Maybe, maybe not. But the Humboldt, Toronto, Narcisse, Durant and his kid comments were which is way worse, and no apologies (sincere or not) can ever make up for that. Face it, you are a dirt bag. You will never change.

It sounds exactly like something you would say. In fact, its tame in comparison to a lot you have said. I think maybe you have finally gone off the deep end, and there are multiple personalities. Or maybe carter did sneeze and you had that brain embolism i warned you about. That could affect your short term memory. Check yourself into the hospital for a thorough examination and ask them to do a mental health evaluation while you are there. Admitting you have a problem is halfway there to getting the help you so desperately need.

Good for Darian to shut all these cry babies up. Everything he did was completely legal and within the rules. Maybe if Walters took as much vacation as Jones he would actually know what’s happening in his organization. And the PR gets in on it? Talk about classless.

They knew he was thinking about retiring. Both sides have stated that. Also, the bonus had long been paid and blue bombers knew it was a non issue at the time DD told them about considering retirement. So that is a none issue.
All that is at question is timing of the announcement. DD said he tried to inform the GM? but they were on vacation. GM should be checking his phone at the least as a GM is paid to keep on top of work developments at all times. Just forward to your PR dept to get a statement out.
DD could have waited though for BB to reply and coordinate the announcement.

A Lie travels halfway around the world before Truth puts on its pants. Eventually it all comes out. I suspect the answer is somewhere between. For Walters, my he whines. After the semi-final loss it was only a matter of time before Walters didn’t like a system where a 12-6 team had to play a 12-6 team. Well the VISITING 12-6 team wasn’t crying. Suck it up. You knew the rules going in. Durant, stubborn as hell, can’t keep his yap shut either. Said nothing all year under Jones & then whined after he got to MTL. I can respect him defending himself & answering the Bombers. But getting in snits with fans proves what? The story about him refusing to play came out a long time ago &, if true, doesn’t win you points with teammates. A brooding backup, unwilling mentor, this is not a a good resume for a wannabe coach if you diss the management of the teams you played for. When Ricky Ray was essentially dumped by Tillman for a pair of used football cleats, he didn’t say anything about the Esk organization or Tillman. His response when the Edmonton media wanted to get some dirt from him was he looked forward to helping out the Argos. Mission accomplished. When Barker traded for Willy & declared him the starter, Ray said nothing. Can you see Lulay or Reilly mouthing off at management should they get moved? Somehow I can’t picture that. This is a pissing contest between 2 individuals, Walters & Durant, who just can’t let things go without a hissy fit. Walters is one of these guys who makes the snowballs but has others throw them. I would hope Durant, beyond the borders of Regina, would be remembered as a great QB not the petulant child who pouts when things don’t go his way.

I must have missed Tillman’s press conference to the entire country when explaining why he traded Ray, saying Ray had only won x# of games this past season, and that Ray has had some moderate success. It’s easier to take the high road when you haven’t been verbally embarrassed in front of the entire CFL community. Kind of an apples to oranges comparison, don’t you think?

Yes & no. Not Ray’s way of doing things, complaining about his lot. You don’t have to be called ” moderately successful” to get the message. Both were unwanted by their GM’s. He, like Durant, was an icon in Edmonton & led them to 2 Grey Cups. Also, the record shows he had lots of game left, Lancaster, bringing home another Grey Cup which Argos likely don’t win w/o him. Ditto last year as Eastern MVP? He had every chance to criticize the decision. Durant, on the other hand, wasn’t good in Regina his last year & eventually benched in Mtl. Even most Rider fans concede now Jones made the right decision.

Im not saying it wasnt the right decision. In fact i agreed at the time of the trade that Durant didnt have it anymore. But tillman explained the trade as a cap decision and looking at the long term interest of the esks, all the while saying what an icon Ray was in edmonton, and that he is still a great qb. Jones did none of those things and publically embarrassed Durant. Which way would you prefer to be traded?

You got that right, Lancy/Reed. Jones publicly humiliated a franchise QB who brought them the ultimate success: a home GC. At this point, (moderately successful) he was disparaging DD just to get him to sign a lower contract. He was too stupid to realize that he had just sealed the deal on DDs departure. A fierce competitor, who put everything he had into winning, and took pride in his work, would never be able to stand up to that kind of kick in the groin. Don’t even try to compare a laid-back guy like Ray. Ray has talent, but when something bad happens like a pick (or even something good, like a TD) he walks off the field looking like his dog just died. For sure, Ray is a winner, but he doesn’t inspire others around him. DD did that in spades!

Who cares… Dud-rant grabbed the money (which he was entitled to) and hobbled into retirement. It’s not like he was capable of playing anymore anyways. He should of rode off into the sunset when the sliders wrote him off.

I am a Rider fan and I see nothing honorable in Durant’s antics. He reneged on a contract with Winnipeg because his ego beat the living hell out of his ethics on this one. He blew up a bridge in my opinion but too many Rider fans see Durant as a hero, despite the reality of the man. his talent level, or his behavior. The CFL is a better place without him.

He retired because he discovered that his heart is no longer in it. The reality of the man: his time in Saskatchewan was marked by hard work, honesty and class. His talent level: he was the starting quarterback when the Riders went to three Grey Cup games in five years. In the 2013 playoffs, he had a quarterback rating in the 140 range. Name one inferior quarterback that took any team to one Grey Cup game, let alone three. He is one of only four quarterbacks to win a Grey Cup with the Riders, that in itself makes him a hero. His behaviour: he took more then one pay cut to remain a Rider. He never broke any laws, no domestic abuse, no pot smoking.
For all that Durant has done for the Riders, you choose to believe all the rumours and innuendo out there. Give him the benefit of the doubt; there is no facts to base any of this on. Durant has never given me any reason to disbelieve him. He has been as asset to both the Riders and the CFL.

I’m gonna agree with you on this comment Kenny… I have never been a Durant fan and when Jones said he was “moderately successful” he seen it coming… Another 3-15 season with Montreal… But to be honest this bonus money works both ways… We were ticked when No Price did or to us

“Bleeding Green”, instantly changing the picture on your blog, plays well with a Rider audience & you’re entitled to do what you want. You could have waited a few days & made a public statement acknowledging some appreciation for the Bomber organization giving you a chance – a simple thank you in light of the fact you were keeping 70G’s they gave you. Changing the picture a little later doesn’t make it look like you’re sticking it to the Bombers, that this may have been the game plan all along. You left a lot of doubt, Darian, in your motives. Intentional or not, this plays like a big “screw you” to the Bombers. Wasn’t that the way you felt when Jones traded you? It can’t be undone. Whatever the fallout, that’s your problem now.

Yes indeed, interesting times ahead when that request occurs. Wonder how all those who are endorsing DD’s antics over the past couple days, will respond to the terrible Bomber Organization & its fan base, when that time arrives!!!!

Nobody wins in that scenario. It”s done. No point Bombers being nasty about it. Can’t see that happening. In my view, this whole business of 1 day contracts to retire with a certain team is rather silly. Cue the outrage.

Agree. I’m actually not mad he took the money, just p.o’d on the way he made his exit. His flip from being, “fortheW” (his Twitter quote, not mine), to bashing Bomber fans who were more than willing to welcome him with open arms, like we did with Dressler. Weston has been hurt a lot, but the Bomber fan base still love him for his work ethic. He never quit on the Bombers, and if he did, I for one would have no problem with his retiement after seeing some of the hits he has taken. There is your difference Durant. Weston played for both green and blue, yet is loved and respected by both teams’ fan bases.

So because he said the Bombers haven’t won in FOREVER you are mad? Yet it’s Bombers fans being dicks to him on Twitter and he is replying to them. I’m a TiCats fan but didn’t Bombers fans spit on Carter and let’s not forget the fan who dumped a f*cking beer on a kid wearing green. Disgusting fan base who drink too much.

Yes, that Bomber fan did drink too much, and his actions were completely unacceptable. Does not represent all of us.

Have you ever been to a Regina bar after a Labour Day game? Beer spilling all over you, as a Bomber fan, is the norm. I have directed security at Banjo Bowl to help Rider fans I see falling into trouble with Bomber fans. Tasteful rivalry is fine, differences of opinion is fine.

Actually I have lost respect for Dressler, still kind of like the guy but would ? his selection to the plaza etc!!!! Dressler took way less cash to go to the Bombers after his Rider release. AS well Weston was very well tot he POINT of over paid in his return to the Riders after 2013, IMO Weston during his return was living on his 2013 and before reputation. Again I don’t hate the fellow, just question the depth of his loyalties//sincerity kina a Fantus clone in my opinion “bleeds” rider green when it suit’s him more often so when HE can make a buck outta his association with being a Rider. Weston supposedly hangs out a bit in Sask during his offseason, not sure if this is true , lets see how Weston acts once he retires or is cut !!!! IS he more Jurasin/Clevland Van/Narco/Mat Domingues/Jeff Fairholm/Elgrad/DD or is he as I said an ANDY clone !!!!! My bet is he is more Andy 2.0 sorry fellow Rider fans. ,

Regarding Kyle Walters and the Bombers, statement of being ,shocked and Blind sided by DD sudden retirement, I feel its a ton of horse dribble. Did not the Bombers sign for sure Alex Ross, shortly before or after their mini camp and didn’t many folks kind of WONDER WHY THE HEC ?? are the Bombers signing a cast off like Alex Ross, given they had Nicholes and DD on the roster. Now if this was not a move based on knowledge of DD’s possible or more likely probable retirement , would NOT a good GM, if your planned ‘back up’ for the season fails to show for mini camp immediately go and try and find depth for main camp in case your planed backup again fails to show for MAIN CAMP!!!! If Walters is that foolish or incompetent as to not have a MO Bomber fans should question HIM and HIS ability to run a team. Again Walters IMO knew he screwed up , after DD made it official Walters attempting to defect criticism on HIM, played a ignite the Rivalry card with the Riders and the two fan bases , thereby being able to not be under the gun for just being stupid and unprepared. Cant see Hervey/Sunderland / Hufnagel /Pop / Dejardines or Jones being caught so flat footed without a plan B given the situation that occurred. Face it Bomber fans Walters screed up !!! and is now just being a whiney little snot and trying to deflect blame to someone else !!!! Agreed DD could of handled the situation better social media wise but I will cut him some slack as I am certain its quite an emotional time for him currently ; pressures of being a new dad, decision to walk away for a 12 year professional career are HUGE life changers !!! Man common folks facing retirement from normal day to day careers get emotional upon leaving any kind of Retirement is STRESSFUL and life changing .

Oh & the Riders signed Messam because Richardson might quit. When in doubt pull out a conspiracy theory. Do tell me about Jones brilliant Plan B for losing Muamba? You think his plan wasn’t getting Muamba to sign for less, as per Hughes re-negotiated contract, as per Collaros re-negotiated contract? Give me a break. Your application for the Flat Earth Society was approved – next meeting Wednesday.

I don’t know how you read that into it. He said his body didn’t respond to training as usual and his heart was no longer in it. That is the problem with most of these stories. If you like Durant, you interpret them differently then if you dislike him. The sleazy part comes from even printing these stories.

I think that the league needs to get rid of signing bonuses as they seem to causing too much controversy. Same with ‘Roster’ bonuses.

A ‘signing’ bonus is to sign a contract. Yes, the intent should be to sign it in good faith but if it is paid to sign and the players signs, then he is owed it (notice I did not say “deserves” it).

Same with Roster bonuses. If a player signs a contract that pay him a bonus for still being on the roster on a given day and he gets released the day before, it might be dirty pool but if the team had other plans and the player was not going to be in their plans moving forward, they would be pretty stupid to pay the bonus and THEN release him. I get that the contract are not binding in the sense that a player can get released before the end of a contract but that is what makes CFL different from other leagues. Ours are binding to the extent that if a player is still on the team, the contract is in effect. If not, then no. I think that would be more of a CBA thing.

SO…Durant MAY be a weasel, morally lacking and not a person of integrity but I feel he is legally entitled to the bonus. I say he MAY be because I was not in his head when he signed and I do not know his intentions wen he signed.

He is ticked off at Montreal for releasing him but they were within their rights. He may have turned around and screwed the bombers (thinking two wrongs make a right) but he is wishing his rights to keep the money advanced. Only Durant knows the truth.

Why would the CFLPA agree to that? The signing bonus is the answer to not having gtd contracts. If you want cost certainty, want players to sign for more than 1 year so they don’t go to the highest bidder & fans can see their favourites stay with the team, you need gtd contracts. Players will take less over a multi-year deal for the security. Cut them early & there’s a buyout. What is the point of going more than 1 year for a little less now. That’s why the proliferation of 1 year deals with upfront bonus money. Player agents aren’t dumb. Any multi-year deal is really a one year deal as it stands now. In fact you could call it a day-to-day deal with the owner’s right to release you with nothing anytime. You want to negotiate the bonus out of the CBA? Good luck.

Sure, why the hell is he on vacation at this time of year ? He had a good idea Durant was retiring, shouldn’t he have been beating the bushes for backups instead of going on vaca, sticking his fingers in his ears and going la la la la la la ?

I’m the furthest thing from a Chris Jones fan but I can guarantee that if Collaros was calling to talk about retiring, Jones would definitely return the call.

An article on here last week mentioned that Jones took a day off for Christmas another for New Years and then one Easter. What an embarrassment for Ky Walters to be on vacation in the middle of May right before training camp opens.

Tend to agree that Walters miss handled this. If I was advised a player we were counting on wasn’t sure about playing and was reconsidering his future (particularly one that was into us for $70k) I would have been on the phone EVERY DAY talking to find out where Darian’s head was at and what we could do to address any concerns he may have about being with us in a back up capacity. Walters obviously didn’t do that and now look where they are. I don’t agree with DD keeping the bonus but if he was legally entitled to it, so be it. It has happened to the Riders before and I didn’t like it then either – need to get over it.

Turns out DD showed a lot of class by giving the Bombers a heads up on his retirement before the 11th hour, instead of letting them get into a worse predicament by waiting on a call from Walters. Which way have given them no time at all to prepare.
He did them a favor announcing his retirement despite their lack of interest.

The Riders ARE Canada’s team. CFL acknowledged the fact that Rider paraphernalia outsells all of the home teams’ stuff in every one of THEIR OWN BALLPARKS. I travel extensively every winter, and I can find t-shirts, and other Rider stuff in faraway islands. I rarely find any other teams’ stuff. The only thing I found on last years’ cruise port of call was an EE jersey, but the EE was backwards. Thinking back, I should have bought it for a bud who lives in Edmonton…can’t believe I never thought of it at the time!

What’s your point? Rider fans vacation time is spent in stadiums? Nothing says tourist like a guy in a Rider jersey chilling in a bar in Mexico. That girl in the bikini who’s giggling & staring at you? NOT what you think, bro. Not interested in your selfies wearing green in Rome, Thailand, or anywhere else. The lack of Rider jerseys in your port of call doesn’t automatically mean they’re flying off the shelves. Contrary to the belief of many Rider fans who breathlessy report Jersey sitings everywhere, Rider fever is not a worldwide phenomenon.

wow! BC DAVE, does that comment ever make sense! People at each venue in the league buy Rider merchandise so that they can take it home, desecrate it, and then start their BBQ-pit fire with it! Sheesh….sorry that I never thought of that earlier !

They gave him a “SIGNING” bonus, not a playing bonus. So he signed. His playing money was due during the season. To sign a backup to a $70,000 bonus is thier problem and a risk. What if a younger QB out performed him in preseason. Do you still have DD as a backup. Players get cut often after a signing bonus. This is a risky business too. Sounds like Winnipeg never called back and tried convincing him to stay. I don’t blame him, he had a great New opportunity for his future, Winnipeg never reached back out, so I guess they never wanted him bad enough, so retire. If you value a playerenoughand spend that much in a bonus, you get after him before it’s too late. He broke up with you and you spent money on him. You don’t get your ring, car or house back. He dumped you because you suck. Move on and quit whining.

BB fans should be embarrassed by Walters sending a PR guy to clean up his mess. I don’t particularly like Jones, but I can’t fault his work ethic (except that, maybe, he should spend more time “smelling the cof-fee.’) How many times has he made personal appeals, flying wherever to meet face-to-face with a guy he wants to sign. By contrast, only days before camp, Walters is on vacation, and won’t even bother to answer a call from his back-up QB. I can’t get inside Doubles’ head, but if I was in that spot, I would at least consider: “here we go again, another deficient GM, like Kavis, is probably going to embarrass me again…ENOUGH!” Walters’ apparent not caring may even have been the tipping point.
Almost all elite athletes must take pride in their ability; DD was no exception. Without that fire in his belly, the Riders would not have won in 2013…they would not have come back in the semi vs. leos. Don’t dump on him now for showing that same fire.

And, it is only BTW, but it isn’t all about the money with Doubles. Jones threw him under the bus while asking him to take two consecutive pay cuts. Even if he played for half the money in Riderville, financially, he would have been ahead of going to MTL. because he made a ton on money on endorsements, which would then disappear. But he couldn’t tolerate Jones belittling him. It was obvious that DD was not Jones’ “guy.”

One thing that’s never been explained is why the riders had the game balls for the Western Final in 2013.
Around 5pm on the Saturday, CFL officials put a bag full of balls into the back of a rented minivan. This van was occupied by rider training staff. The were returned around 9am Sunday morning game day.

If that is a true story, it’s because Calgary has no place in that dump to keep game balls. So Sask rented a van because Calgary is too cheap. Riders went on to man handle Calgary that Sunday. You know that Stamps team from 2006-2013 that went 1-5 against Sask in the playoffs. Trend will continue. You pray Calgary won’t face us in the playoffs. Lucky for you the slow start last season or you would have lost to us again in the WF.

Not necessarily. Calgary fumbled the ball a lot. That shows they may have sanded the ball in a few places. riders knew where those spots were and held the ball accordingly to avoid contacting at those points.

The stamps fumbling the ball a lot just shows that they were mentally unprepared for the cold weather. All wearing long sleaves, special electic hand warmers. Lol. They were so unprepared and mentally weak regarding the weather. Huff simply did a pisspoor job in preparing them.

Maybe you should ask the cfl. Are you thinking the riders managed to put a hex on the footballs that made the stamp players constantly drop them? That would take some powerful voodoo that can’t be done in just one night. A better explanation for the stamps fumbleitis that game was simply the stamps CHOKING AGAIN.

A couple of ex stamp employees have admitted that the stamps pay players under the table to avoid the cap. And have for years. Huff has it down to a science. Burris, bo, cornish, and many, many others. Hughes and messam confirmed it to a friend of a friend.

So you admit the stamps cheat. That’s good. Of course if that was the only issue you can make light of it, but with illegal gambling and the mob involved, it’s much more serious than simple cap violations.

Did you ever wonder how a very successful coach goes from the nfl to the cfl in such a short time period? Hufnagel goes from coaching Tom Brady to a Super Bowl MVP to OC of the giants where he has one of the top offenses in the league. To nobody in the nfl wanting him , all in 3 short years. Why is that? Gambling. In New York huffs gambling gets him in trouble with the mob. Then huff inexplicably starts ignoring the best running back in the league and the giants start losing. Huff loses his oc position, then a week later is fired. Why? And then no other team has any interest in a very successful coach? Again. Why? He was fixing games for the mob. The league didn’t want the bad press if this comes out so they hush it all up, but all teams know huff is persona non grata. So with no team in the nfl returning his calls, huff ends up in Calgary. But the mob follows him here. They are his muscle if anyone talks too much about how he cheats. The mob can still make some money betting on cfl, but huff has to be much more careful on fixing games. The best money is losing in the playoffs , especially the grey cup if the betting line is lucrative, like in 2016. It’s all on the dark web if you know where to look.

So pro teams that make millions of dollars, cut players a day before they are due a bonus…to save we will say $100,000. That’s a lot of money coming out of a players and his family’s pocket. And it’s the same cliche crap “this is a business and it came down to dollars”. Maybe if teams payed the bonuses they promise players, you wouldn’t see players retire and take their signing bonus. If the teams are going to treat players like shit…they should expect the same treatment back. Price did it to the Riders (and there wasn’t 20 stories on it), DD did it to the bombers, and more players will do it to other teams in the future.
I hope with the new CBA at the end of this year, you will see a clause in future contracts. Player bonuses will be paid out by October …and signing bonuses will be paid back to teams if they don’t play. Everyone gets their money.
How come everyone all of a sudden loses their shit now when this happens…but no one bats an eye at all the other times this has happened?? Riders must live rent free in all their haters heads

Is it not incredible that Durant has broken none of the laws of our country nor the rules of the CFL or the CFLPA, yet he is being demonized, while Duron Carter has broken the laws of our country, not once but twice in a short time span, and he is being idolized? Duron has also run amok of CFL rules several times and been fined. I do not remember Durant ever being fined by the CFL. Still they call Duron “polarizing”. They may very well find him polarizing in prison. It is a strange world.

sounds good in theory, BB, but how would the team get money back from, say, Finch, who spent all of it on attorney fees? Creditors can’t even chase bad debts within the country; trying to chase it in the Exited States isn’t worth the time, or the legal fees, etc.

Had to laugh at the suggestion that Regina doctored the footballs in the 2013 WDF.

It wouldn’t have mattered if they’d used bowling balls, tennis balls or doctored footballs – – the Riders kicked the living shit out of the Stamps. By the 4thQ the Calgary players had quit and the Calgary fans had left the building.

The only thing better than physically dominating a team is physically dominating them on their home field in frigid sub-zero temperatures.

the answer to the game ball is really easy. The Riders asked the steel plant in north Regina to atomize an amount of iridium to infuse into half of the game balls. Then they marked the doctored balls, and gave them to the Stamps. Editor’s note: iridium is the second densest material…just behind irredium, a material which, although very dense, tends to be flaky, and unreliable for manufacturing.

I know that I will get scolded for this but I am trying to be honest in my heart. What Durant did was plain and simply classless. Makes no difference whos version of the events is correct. A few days one way or the other would not have hurt anyone. The statement by Mr Durant, “If you cut me open, id bleed green”, tells a great deal where this mans head has been while collecting paycheques from Montreal, and now bonuses gratis from Winnipeg. If I could prove it, i would suggest that Jones, the green weasel, had something to do with this. Just my opinion.